How to Spice Up Your Meals and Add Flavor to Your Foods

My kids are not too keen on their breakfast cereal but I discovered that I could get them to show some enthusiasm for it by topping it with a bit of cinnamon powder. In fact, cinnamon can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes, it especially brings out the flavor of certain foods with its woody and strong aroma. Or, simply add it to your tea for a heady aroma and exotic taste.

Tired of bland, tasteless food day in and day out? Here's how to spice up your meals and add flavor to your foods...

It's simple enough if you have a bunch of spices and herbs on hand – just sprinkling a little bit of spice powder or fresh herbs on your food turns a mundane meal into a gourmet spread.

Dried chilli flakes on your pizza makes a world of difference to the taste. Chilli flakes are a wonderful spice to transform a bland dish into something nippy and tasty. Powdered chilli flakes can be used in curries, stir-fries as well as to season your dish.

Spice up your meals with a dash of fresh herbs. Instead of dressing up your salad with olive oil, try squeezing lime juice instead. Top up with finely chopped fresh corriander leaves, add salt and toss. You'll be amazed at the tangy, citrus flavor and the fresh aroma of the herbs.

Cumin is an excellent seasoning ingredient. Not only does it enhance the taste of your dish, but its flavor reduces the need for salt, ideal for people with low sodium diets. Cumin can be added to meat and vegetable dishes to enhance the flavors.

The ginger root provides many health benefits besides being anti-inflammatory. Apart from that it is an excellent remedy for digestive problems, nausea and cold. Dried ginger powder when added to tea gives relief from throat irritation and cold. Ginger and garlic paste is used in marinades for poultry and meat-based dishes to enhance the taste and add an interesting element to the food.

Summer coolers are incomplete without a sprig of mint. Squeeze out the juice of one lemon, add salt and sugar to taste, add chilled water or soda and top with a few crushed mint leaves. Try adding a few mint leaves to watermelon juice – you'll love this sweet, mint flavored summer drink.

Rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram are some of the Herb and Spice Guide that are used in meat-based dishes, poultry and eggs. You might want to try these herbs on your vegetables, potatoes or beans for a spiced-up version of your meal.

Like we said, spices and herbs are a great way to spice up your meals. In addition to improving the taste, herbs and spices provide several health benefits that keep disease at bay.

I love cooking and experimenting with dishes from a variety of places. I believe herbs and spices can make such a big difference to a simple dish.